Flat back hairdressing cape

ABSTRACT

A hairdressing cape comprising a sheet of flexible material with a neck cutout closer to one end, and a shoulder cutout extending from the neck cutout towards one long edge. The cape drapes over a person such that the cape lies flat over the person&#39;s back and creates a smooth, even surface for shaping and styling long hair.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a non-provisional US patent application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/912,973 filed on Oct. 9, 2019.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to hair dressing tools and more specifically to hairdressing capes.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a hairdressing cape. Hair stylists use hair dressing capes to protect a customer's clothing from cut hair and hair-treating products. Typically, these capes are made from a single piece of material such as plastic or fabric. A neck opening is centrally located, and the opposite ends of the neck are fastened together at the back of the customer's neck to close the cape.

In this style of cape, the additional fabric of the cape gathers down the customer's back. This excess and overlapping fabric hunches up and can snag a comb or brush and create an uneven surface on which long hair lies. As a result, it is more difficult for a hair stylist to perform an even cut.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is a hairdressing cape. The cape comprising a sheet of flexible material with a front side and a reverse side. The cape is rectangular with two parallel long edges perpendicular to upper and lower short edges. A neck cutout is generally oval, centered between the long edges and closer to the upper short edge. A shoulder cutout is generally triangular and defined by a first cutout edge running from the center of the neck cutout parallel to the upper short edge to the second long edge; and a second cutout edge running at an upwards angle from the center of the neck cutout to the second long edge. The first cutout edge and the second cutout edge form an angle of between 15 and 45 degrees. A first plurality of fasteners is located on the front side and a second plurality of fasteners is located on the reverse side. The first plurality of fasteners and the second plurality of fasteners are configured to overlap and adjustably attach to secure the cape around a person's neck.

These and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be more readily understood after reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a hairdressing cape according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a enlarged view of a neck cutout section of the hairdressing cape of FIG. 1 showing fastenings according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front isometric view of the hairdressing cape of FIG. 1 as worn.

FIG. 4 is a back isometric view of the hairdressing cape of FIG. 1 as worn.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view the hairdressing cape of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the hairdressing cape of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of a portion of the hair dressing cape of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the hairdressing cape of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the hairdressing cape of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the hairdressing cape of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a left side view of the hairdressing cape of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the hairdressing cape of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a hairdressing cape 100 laid out flat. The cape 100 may also be a mirror image of the cape depicted or modified in varying ways as described in more detail below. The cape 100 is made of a sheet of flexible material such as, but not limited to, plastic, nylon, fabric, and the like. The material may be light-weight, water resistant, and capable of protecting the customer's clothing from cut hair and hair products and chemicals used during a hair styling procedure. The cape 100 has a front or outer side 101 and a reverse side 102 (see e.g. FIGS. 8 and 11) that will face the body of a person 400 on which the cape 100 is placed as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The cape 100 is generally rectangular with a first long edge 110, a second long edge 120. an upper short edge 130, and a lower short edge 140. In the illustrated embodiment, the long edges 110, 120 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the short edges 130, 140. A cape length L from 130 to 140 may be within a range from 4 to 6 feet, and in some embodiments may be approximately 60 inches, but other lengths are possible. A cape width W from 110 to 120 may be within a range from 3 to 4 feet, and in some embodiments may be 40 inches, but other widths are possible. In some embodiments, a ratio of L/W may be approximately 3/2. A longitudinal centerline 150 may extend between the short edges 130, 140 and may be parallel to and centered between the long edges 110, 120. The edges 110, 120, 130, 140 may be reinforced by stitching 105.

The cape 100 has a first upper corner 160 where the first long edge 110 and the upper short edge 130 intersect. The cape 100 has a second upper corner 170 where the second long edge 120 and the upper short edge 130 intersect. A first lower corner 180 and a second lower corner 190 exist in the corresponding intersections on the lower short edge 140 with the long edges 110, 120. The corners 160, 170, 180, 190 may be right angles, rounded, or any other shape.

The cape 100 includes a neck cutout 200 centered on the centerline 150. The neck cutout 200 may be curved and roughly circular in shape, e.g, circular, ovoid, elliptical, egg-shaped. etc. The neck cutout 200 is sized to accommodate most neck sizes and may have a neck opening diameter D perpendicular to the centerline 150 of approximately 8 inches, but other diameters are possible. A neck axis 210 is defined by a line parallel to the short edges 130, 140 running through a center C of the neck cutout 200. A distance L1 from the neck axis 210 to the upper short edge 130 is shorter than a distance L2 from the neck axis 210 to the lower short edge 140. In some embodiments, a ratio of L1/L2 may be approximately 1/2.

The cape 100 further includes a shoulder cutout 220. In the illustrated embodiment, the shoulder cutout 220 is generally triangular in shape and is defined on one side by a first cutout edge 230 running along the neck axis 210 from the center C of the neck cutout 200 to the second long edge 120 and creating a right angle with the second long edge 120. An opposite side of the shoulder cutout 220 is defined by a second cutout edge 240 running at an upward angle toward the second long edge 120 and the first short edge 130 from the center C of the neck cutout 200 to the second long edge 120, proximate the second upper corner 170. The first cutout edge 230 and the second cutout edge 240 define an angle A therehetween that may be within a range from 15 to 45 degrees, and in sonic embodiments may be approximately 30 degrees. A shoulder flap 250 is formed by the roughly triangular portion of cape 100 between the shoulder cutout 220 and the upper short edge 130.

An adjustable fastening mechanism 300 may be located along a perimeter of the neck cutout 200 to allow the cape 100 to be secured around the neck of a person 400. The fastening mechanism may be adjustable to accommodate a variety of neck sizes. The fastening mechanism 300 may be snaps, buttons, Velcro, magnetic clips, or any other adjustable means of attaching one piece of fabric to another. In some embodiments, the fastening mechanism 300 may be separate from the cape 100, such as a clip or other temporary fastener that is attached after the cape 100 is draped around the person 400 to hold the cape 100 in place. In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a first plurality of fasteners 310 is secured on the front side 101 of the cape 100 running inward from the second cutout edge 240 of the shoulder cutout 220 along the top of the neck cutout 200, and a second plurality of fasteners 320 is secured on the reverse side 102 of the cape 100 running inward from the first cutout edge 230 of the shoulder cutout 220 along the bottom of the neck cutout 200. The first and second plurality of fasteners 310, 320 may be secured to the cape 100 with reinforcing strips 330 of additional material or may be attached directly to the cape 100. In one embodiment, a first front snap 340 may be located 1 inch from the second cutout edge 240 of the shoulder cutout 220. Additional front snaps 340 may be located at 1.5 inch intervals. A first back snap 350 may be located 2 inches from the top edge of the shoulder cutout 220. Additional back snaps 350 may be located at 1.5 inch intervals. As shown in FIGS, 6,7,9, and 10, in one embodiment, front snaps 340 may be female snap members and back snaps 350 may be male snap members. Other arrangements and types of fastening mechanisms are possible.

As shown in FIG. 3 (front view and FIG. 4 (back view), the cape 100 is intended to be worn by the person 400 during hairdressing to protect clothes from cut hair and chemical products. When worn, the lower short edge 140 is in front of the person 400 such that the majority of the cape 100 covers the front of the person 400. The upper short edge 130 drapes around the person 400 such that the first upper corner 160 may be pointed generally downwards to cover the back of the person 400. The shoulder flap 250 wraps over the shoulder 402 of the person 400 toward the front. The first cutout edge 230 drapes partially over the corresponding shoulder 402 above the shoulder flap 250. Because the first cutout edge 230 extends over just a portion of the shoulder 402, only one layer of fabric lies beneath the hair on the back, thereby presenting a smooth, even surface for shaping and styling long hair. The fasteners 300 allow the cape 100 to be secured into position with a snug but not tight fit around the neck of the person 400. In the illustrated embodiment, back snaps 350 snap into the corresponding front snaps 340 to secure the cape 100 on the person 400.

Additional views of the cape are shown in FIGS. 5-11.

While the preceding text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of protection is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the scope of protection. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hairdressing cape, comprising a sheet of flexible material having: a front side: a reverse side opposite the front side; a first long edge; a second long edge opposite the first long edge; an upper short edge extending between the first long edge and the second long edge; a lower short edge opposite the upper short edge and extending between the first long edge and the second long edge; a neck cutout centered between the first long edge and the second long edge; a first cutout edge extending from the neck cutout to the second long edge; and a second cutout edge extending from the neck cutout to the second long edge; wherein the first cutout edge and the second cutout edge define a shoulder cutout.
 2. The cape of claim 1, wherein a ratio of cape length of the cape to cape width of the cape is 3 to
 2. 3. The cape of claim 1, wherein a cape length of the cape is between 4 and 6 feet.
 4. The cape of claim 1, wherein a cape width of the cape is between 3 and 4 feet.
 5. The cape of claim 1, wherein an angle formed by the first cutout edge and the second cutout edge is in a range from 15 degrees to 45 degrees.
 6. The cape of claim 1, wherein the neck cutout is circular with a diameter of 8 inches.
 7. The cape of claim 1, wherein the neck cutout is closer to the upper short edge than to the lower short edge.
 8. The cape of claim 1, wherein the cape is made of a light-weight, water-resistant material.
 9. The cape of claim 1, further comprising reinforced edges.
 10. The cape of claim 1, further comprising a fastening mechanism proximate the neck cutout.
 11. The cape of claim 10, wherein the fastening mechanism is attached to the cape via a reinforced section of cape.
 12. The cape of claim 10, wherein the fastening mechanism is Velcro.
 13. The cape of claim 10, wherein the fastening mechanism is snaps.
 14. The cape of claim 10, wherein the fastening mechanism is buttons.
 15. A hairdressing cape, comprising a rectangular sheet of flexible material having: a front side; a reverse side opposite the front side; a first long edge; a second long edge opposite the first long edge; an upper short edge extending between the first long edge and the second long edge; a lower short edge opposite the upper short edge and extending between the first long edge and the second long edge; a circular neck cutout centered between the first long edge and the second long edge and closer to the upper short edge than to the lower short edge; a first cutout edge extending from the neck cutout to the second long edge; a second cutout edge extending from the neck cutout to the second long edge, the first cutout edge and the second cutout edge defining a triangular shoulder cutout; and a fastening mechanism proximate to the neck cutout configured to fasten the neck cutout around a neck of a person.
 16. The cape of claim 15, wherein the fastening mechanism is attached to the cape via a reinforced section of cape.
 17. The cape of claim 15, wherein the fastening mechanism is Velcro.
 18. The cape of claim 15, wherein the fastening mechanism is snaps.
 19. The cape of claim 15, wherein the fastening mechanism is buttons.
 20. The cape of claim 15, wherein an angle formed by the first cutout edge and the second cutout edge is in a range from 15 degrees to 45 degrees. 